Internal-combustion engine



A. P. HARDWICK.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-3| I918.

Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

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A. P. HARDWICK. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 3, I918.

Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

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ARCHER P. I-LAIRDWICK, F VANADIUM, COLORADO.

rnrnnnnt-consnsrron ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

Application filed January 3, 1918. Serial No. 210,208.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Anonnn P. HARDWICK, a citizen of the United States,'and a resident of Vanadium, in the county of San Miguel and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification;

My invention relates to improvements in internal combustion engines, and it consists in the constructions, combinations and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a double acting four-cycle internal combustion engine embodying as one of the principal features, a reciprocating piston capable of compressing charges on both sides of the head'and the cylinder heads between which the piston reciprocates.

Another object of the invention is to provide an engine as described, including a pivotal mounting for the relatively fixed cylinders, through the medium of which, the

cylinders may oscillate to accommodate the positions of the reciprocating piston, without the use of a wrist pin.

Another object of the invention resides in the location of the inlet and exhaust valves in the opposed cylinder heads.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the casing,

parts being broken away to show a pair of the cylinders.

Fig. 2 is a ivertical section of the uppermost cylinder in Fig. 1.

Fig; 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. I

Figs. 4; to 7 inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrating one of the cycles of operation.

Fig. 8 is an inverted plan view of the cylinder housing, and

Fig. 9 is a diagram hereinafter referred to.

In carrying out my invention 1 provide a piston 1 movable in the chamber 2 termed by the outer and inner relatively stationary cylinders 3 and 4. These cylinders include theheadsfi and 6. The piston 1 reciprocates between theheads 5 and 6, and is adapted to compress'a charge of gas in the space between the head 1, and the heads 5 and 6, at The energy exploded, makes the engine double acting since the piston 1 moves on both directions.

Extensions 7 of the piston 1, are connected to a crosshead 8. The crosshead 8 forms a part of a short piston rod 9 which,-'in the nstance of the uppermost cylinder in Fig. 1, is a part of a crank pin plate 10. The crank 11 or the engine receives the plate 10. The crank l'1 is a part of the crank shaft 12 wh ch is ournaled in the bearings 13 of the casing 14.

The integralfpiston rod and crank pin plate construction, appears only in the instance of the uppermost oylinder. The other short piston rods 9 are plvoted to the crank pin plate on a wrist pin 15. This is shown in Fig. l.

.hrcuate slots 16 in the bottom 17 of the cylmder housing 18, accommodate the extensions 7 of the piston 1, which are also arcuate in shape as shown in Fig. 8. The crosshead 8 is secured to the extensions '7 by the bolts 19 or other similar means, as shown. A rigid connection between the crosshead 8 and the extensions 7 is thus provided, and this arrangement is duplicated for each of the cylinders.

The cylinders 3 and 4 as well as the cylinder housing 18, oscillate about a pivot on the casing 14, as the piston 1 reciprocates in the chamber 2 in rotating the crank shaft 12 through the explosions at the top and bottom of the piston. The pivot consists of hollow trunnions 20 and 21. cally disposed within the trunnions 20 and 21, are conduits 22 and 23. The trunnions and conduits are shown as integral structures with the cylinder housing 18, but obviously may be formed separately and secured in place if the occasion so demands.

Water flows through the hollow trunnions 20 and 21 to cool the cylinders. Fresh gas enters at the conduit 22, and the exhaust gases pass through the conduit 23.

resh gas enters and occupies the space between the housing 18 and outer cylinder 3 at the left. The exhaust gases enter and occupy the space between the housing 18 and outer cylinder 3 at the right; The central partition 24 prevents the gases from mingling. Partitions 25 shown more clearly in Fig. 3, define the water passages of the:

hollow trunnions and also form a portion of the walls of the spades between the hous-' ing and outer cylinder just described.

power strokes in Concentri- The Inlet valves 26 and 27 are located in the heads 5 and 6 of the respective cylinders. Companion exhaust valves 28 and 29 are located in the same heads. These valves are opened at the proper times to perform the functions of. admitting fresh charges of gas and permitting the burnt charges to exhaust, by cams 30 and 31. The particular construction of the cams is not essential to the understanding of the invention, and a detailed description thereof will not be entered into here.

It is sufficient to say that the cams revolve loosely on the hubs of the trunnions 20 and 21, and in the space between the adjacent journals 14 of the casing 14, in which the trunnions are pivoted. A lift rod 32 supported in a bearing 33 and having a roller 34 engaging each cam, unseats the valves 26 and 28 fat the proper times, through the medium of the pivoted tappets 35 to which the respective lift rods are connected. A spring 36 holds each. valve normally up. i V i The valves 26 and 28 are contained in a valve cage 37 which is introduced through an opening 38 in the top ofthe housing 18;

' The opening 38 is closed by a screw cap 39 upon which the springs 36 rest. The

construction and manner of operation of the lower valves 27 and 29, is substantially the same as that of the upper valves just described. The tappets 40 which actuate thestems of the respective valves, are operated by the lift rods 41 which ride upon the peripheries of the cams 30 and 31.

A silent chain 42 applies to a sprocket 43 on the crank shaft 12, and to a sprocket 44 on each of-the cams, rotates he cams. The cams are so shaped and timed, that the various valves are operated at the proper times to open and close and conduct the gases into and out of the working chambers in the manner previously indicated.

A spark plug is provided for each of the Working or explosion chambers. The spark plug for the lower chamber is indicated at 45 in Fig. 2. The spark plug for the upper chamber may be introduced at any suitable place. The piston 1 is put in place from the bottom of the outer cylinder 3, and the lower edge of the c linder 3 marks the point of separation oft e various cylinders and the housing 18. The continuation of the housing 18, which includes the bottom 17, is in the nature of a cap or cover. Access to the interior of the engine is "had on removing the cover. This feature of course has its advantages, and will be readily understood from Fig. 2.

The operation of the device is as follows: When the piston 1 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, a charge of compressed gas in the'chamber 2 above the piston is about to explode and move the piston on its working stroke to the position shown in Fig. 4. A

.charge of gas previously introduced in the partly through the inherent momentum of the piston and the rotation of the crank shaft through the operation of. the other pistons.

On the third stroke, the inlet valve 26 is opened and a fresh charge ofg as is drawn into the upper chamber 2. valve 29 is also opened during this stroke, and the burnt gases of the second explosion are forced out.. This action is illustrated enged cylinder,*and when the compress charge just referred to is exploded, the same cycle of operations above described, will be repeated.

It will be understood from the foregoing, that the engine is double acting. The same cycle of operations occurs both on top of and beneath the piston. It will be seen in Fig. 9 that corresponding phases in the cycle of operation of each cylinder, are 180 apart. Fig. 9 will be readily understood when read in connection with'the foregoing description, and further explanation is thought unnecessary.

The arrangement of the hollow trunnions introduces another novel feature. The water through these trunnions may of course flow in either. direction. It is preferable however, to introduce the water at the trunnion 21 and have the hot water fiow out of the; trunnion 20. The cool water thus materially reduces the temperature of the hot exhaust conduit 23, and at the same time the hot water flowing out of the trunnion 20 aids in the volatilization of the incoming charge whether it be composed of gasolene or oil or other similar substance.

Great power is exerted on the crank through the direct connection of the piston with the crank 11. The absence of the usual wrist pin in the piston. makes it easy tounderstand that the frictional losses occasioned by the use of such a pin, are entirely eliminated. The use of ample packing rings insures the retention of compression in both working chambers. By arranging the engine so that the piston is capable of being he exhaust reciprocated by double explosions, obtains twice as much power for the same weight of materials found in ordinary engines.

As incidental features of construction, the hollow trunnions through which the water passes, and the gas conduits, may be combined in manifolds at the sides of the casing 14 as shown in Fi 1. There is no particular advantage in t 1e arrangement of the manifolds here shown, and they maybe modified in any suitable manner to the best possible advantage. The same is-true of the formation of the casing. The casing may be round as shown, orof similar shape.

While the construction and arrangement of the device as illustrated in the accompanying drawings is that of a generally preferred'form, obviously modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim,

1. An internal combustion engine, comprising outer and inner spaced cylinders with openings at the bottom, intake and exhaust valves in the head of each cylinder, the valves in the inner cylinder controlling the gas flow from the bottom of the inner cylinder; and a piston operating between the cylinder heads, arranged to receive a power stroke at each side of the head and including portions projecting out of the bottom openings of the outer cylinder.

2. An internal combustion en 'ne, comprising outer and inner spaced cyli nders, intake and exhaust valves in the head of each cylinder, a piston operating between the cylinder heads and arranged to receive a power stroke at each side of its.head,'a housing inclosing the outer cylinder and having communication with the explosion chambers through the respective valves, and

, a partition dividing the space between the outer cylinder and housing to provide separate chambers for the fresh and exhaust gas.

3; An internal combustion engine, comprising a casing, a plurality of cylinders inf closed by the casing, hollow trunnions for each of the cylinders providing oscillatory bearings for the cylinders in the casing, said hollow trunnions forming water intake and outlet passages, and having concentric gas induction and eduction conduits, annular intake and exhaust manifolds concentric with the casing and communicating with the respective conduits, and annular water manifolds communicating with said'passages.

4. An.inter nal'combustion engine, comprising outer and inner cylinders spaced apart, a piston operating between'said cylinders, intake and exhaust valves in the head of each cylinder, a housing spaced from the outer cylinder, and partition Walls between the outer cylinder and said housing forming separate longitudinal passages for the fresh and exhaust gas.

5. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of the outer and inner cylinders,.a cylinder housing for the-outer cylinder including a vertical partition providing lateral spaces between the outer cylinder and the housing, trunnions carried by said housing providlng a pivotal mounting for the housing of the cylinders, said trunnions including means communicating with the lateral spaces for the induction and eduction of gases, and companion valves in the heads of the respective cylinders for controlling the passage of the gases between said spaces and the chamber within said cylinders.

6. In an internal combustion engine, a casing, a cylinder housing within the casing, an outer cylinder within and spaced from the housing, a vertical central partition, side partitions forming lateral spaces between the housing and outer cylinder, an inner concentrically disposed cylinder spaced from the outer cylinder, a piston movable in the chamber between said cylinders providing separate working chambers above and below the piston head, a hollow trunnion on each side of said housing providing a water channel communicating with the space between the outer cylinder and said housing beyond the side partitions, said trunnions having a pivotal mounting in the casing, and gas conduits concentric to the trunnions and communicating with the aforesaid lateral spaces. 100

7. In an internal combustion engine, a crank shaft having a crank, outer and inner connected cylinders concentrically disposed, spaced apart and oscilla'tably mounted, a piston including a portion movable between 105 said cylinders, extensions on said piston reaching below the point of connection of said cylinders,,and connecting means fixed to said extensions and loose on the crank including a crosshead and a piston rod.

8. Inan internal combustion engine, a crank, a cylinder housing having a pair of arcua'te slots, a crank pin plate on the crank including a piston rod and a crosshead, outer and inner connected cylinders concentrically 115 disposed and spaced apart, located in said housing and provided with arcuate .slots in the connection, and a piston including a portion movable in the space between the cylinders, with longitudinal slots cut therein-to 120 provide extensions extending through the arcuate slots of the cylinders and housing and secured to the crosshead.

&

duits, an inner cylinder concentrically disposed and spaced from the outer cylinder, a

'piston including a portion movable in said 10. In an internal combustion engine, a

cylinder housing having a threaded opening, an outer cylinder within and spaced from the housing includinga central vertical partition, a valve cage lowered through the opening into position in the outer cylinder, and a screw cap closing the opening and holding the cage in place.

11. An internal combustion engine, comprising an outer cylinder with a housing spaced therefrom to form a part of a water jacket, hollow trunnions in axial alinement on the housing communicating with the Water jacket for the induction and eduction of cooling Water, and gas conduits concentric with and spaced from said trunnions, joined with said housing and cylinder to communicate with fresh and exhaust gas spaces separated fromsaid water jacket.

12. In aninternal combustion engine, inner and outer cylinders spaced apart but connected together at the bottom, said connection having arcua'te slots cut therein, and a piston operating in the space between the cylinders, with longitudinal slots cut therein to provide extensions operating in and extending through the arcuate slots.

ARCHER P. HARDWICK. 

